Business

Shoppers around the world took many steps to stretch their budgets during the recession such as eating at home more frequently or cutting back on vacations. While improving economies may prompt consumers to return to restaurants or take a vacation, one trend that looks likely to remain—and perhaps even grow—is the shift to private label goods.

Based at Rum Marketing International, Flor de Caña’s headquarters in Miami, Viteri will oversee the brand’s global marketing in key markets such as Mexico, Chile, Spain, the U.S., Australia, Canada, Italy, France, the UK and the Caribbean.

Valentin Ramirez, formerly with the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, has been appointed to the new position of Vice President/Managing Director Consumer Hispanic Markets, Americas for McCormick and Company, Inc., it was announced by McCormick Chairman, President and CEO Alan Wilson.

Social media has increased its importance around the world, and while social network advertising continues to grow quickly in the US, spending in other markets is set to rise even faster. But brand marketers still don’t feel social media is the most effective way to reach their international audiences.

Amid seemingly contradictory economic datapoints, manufacturers and retailers will need to focus on the habits of the consumer for clarity and insights into the pace of recovery.

Having achieved its goal of a 72% mail-back participation rate, coupled with strong cooperation by non-respondents with Census workers during door-to-door follow-up visits, this week the U.S. Census bureau reported a budget surplus of $1.6 billion to be returned to the government.

Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS) announced the release of its VSS Communications Industry Forecast 2004-2014, providing a five-year historical record and a five-year forecast of spending for four Revenue Streams – and now also an additional analysis of the six major Industry Sectors — including 20 segments and more than 100 sub-segments of the U.S. Communications Industry.

Two of the most prevalent characteristics of today’s media environment are fragmentation and convergence. Proper marketing or integrated media strategy and planning work require one to have the outlook, brains and muscle to navigate incredible complexities. It’s not for everyone.

PointRoll ShopLocal released a free comprehensive research analysis “Back-to-School Consumer Interactions Reveal a Hidden Opportunity for Advertisers.” We developed this guide to help retailers and brands optimize their activities in the important Back-to-School (“B2S”) season, second only in significance to the winter holidays for retailers and brands who target this market. While the economy is holding its ground and the B2S market is estimated to grow a robust 11% to $55B in 2010, many retailers and brands are watching their cash registers cautiously and taking a wait-and-see approach towards their marketing efforts. DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE.

Batanga, Inc. announced that Olivia Maloney, former Director of U.S. Hispanic Sales & Solutions for AOL Advertising, was named VP of Sales for the Eastern region. Maloney will be based out of Batanga Network’s New York office and report directly to Chairman and CEO, Rafael Urbina.

Telemundo announced that the Telemundo Station Group has added Digital Out of Home capabilities to their Conexion sales platform. The digital network, “Telemundo en tu Mundo,” launches as the largest Digital Out of Home network serving the U.S. Hispanic market.